Thursday, June 6, 2013

Smoothie Week: Healthy Vanilla Shamrock Smoothie

(P.S. Be sure to check out smoothie recipes No. 1 and No. 2 from this week if you haven't done so already.)

I know. St. Patrick's Day was in March, so I kind of missed the boat on the whole "Shamrock Shake" celebration. Let's just say I had a serious case of tunnel vision. Only copycat Girl Scout cookie recipes made it through my blinders that month.

Even though it's June, I simply couldn't resist making a healthier, creamier version of McDonald's seasonal favorite. Better late than never, right?

If you're a vanilla fan, this smoothie will be your new favorite drink. If you're a chocolate fanatic, this copycat milkshake sans cocoa powder might surprise you with its deliciousness. I slurp at least two Healthy Thin Mint Smoothies per week, but this creation is the perfect fix for when you crave peppermint but don't want chocolate.

Not to mention, spinach finally gets its moment in the spotlight. You can't have a copycat shamrock shake without the signature green color! However, unlike the original, this coloring is natural.

Steps:

Add the spinach, milk, yogurt, vanilla, peppermint, and whey protein to a blender. Blend for 20 seconds. I find it's best to stop and "pulse" every few seconds.

Add the banana, avocado and ice to
the blender and blend until all ingredients are well-combined. The
amount of time this takes depends of the quality and type of blender you
own. I have a bullet blender, so it normally takes about 10 to 15 seconds of pulsing to ensure no spinach leaves and ice chunks remain.

Your smoothie should be pretty thick at this point. Add more milk to make the smoothie thinner, if desired.

Sip through a straw, eat with a spoon, or add to a travel mug and enjoy on your way to work or school.